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by Louise Gornall
Recommended Age: YA (12+ years and above)
Lexile: 740L
Content Warning(s): anxiety, agoraphobia, depression, OCD, self-harm
Book Summary
"At seventeen, Norah has accepted that the four walls of her house delineate her life. She knows that fearing everything from inland tsunamis to odd numbers is irrational, but her mind insists the world outside is too big, too dangerous. So she stays safe inside, watching others’ lives through her windows and social media feed.
But when Luke arrives on her doorstep, he doesn’t see a girl defined by medical terms and mental health. Instead, he sees a girl who is funny, smart, and brave. And Norah likes what he sees.
Their friendship turns deeper, but Norah knows Luke deserves a normal girl. One who can walk beneath the open sky. One who is unafraid of kissing. One who isn’t so screwed up. Can she let him go for his own good—or can Norah learn to see herself through Luke’s eyes?"
My Thoughts
Books are always a great way to explore worlds you can't tangibly reach, so I've recently been mindful about selecting books with main characters who face real struggles and challenges that I might not know about otherwise. Before reading this book, I had heard about agoraphobia but had mostly summed it up as, "Oh, they're scared to leave their house," and left it at that. I didn't fully understand this fear. While I was curious, I didn't think there was a way for me to learn more—I couldn't exactly step into someone else's body and experience it. But through this book, it felt personal, as if I were on the fringe of the scene, watching Norah live confined by this all-encompassing fear that affects every aspect of her life and those around her.
It was heartwarming to see Norah and Luke's relationship, especially how accepting and understanding he was of everything she was going through. I feel like media often portrays teenage relationships as something only "perfect" people can have, and that can be a harmful mindset for adolescents who, like myself, are so impressionable at this age. Seeing this kind of relationship represented in contemporary literature is especially important.
Regarding the actual content, while I loved exploring and learning more about Norah's OCD and agoraphobia, the writing itself wasn't for me. A lot of the time, it felt too simple—too much "telling" rather than "showing." In moments where I wouldn't have otherwise understood Norah's internal struggles, it was helpful to have that spelled out for me. But for other parts, it got a little frustrating when everything was just stated instead of being described in a way that would let me fully immerse myself in the scene. Even though this simplicity annoyed me at times, my curiosity to better understand these illnesses kept me reading.
Ultimately, this book opened my eyes to the unseen illnesses people my age can face. It also shifted my perspective on the things I take for granted—like being able to leave my house without fear—simply because I assume everyone can do the same.
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